Make games, save the planet” is an Arizona State University program that positions young people as community science leaders who use STEM and media to envision and work toward the future they want to live in. With support from adult team members, participating youth leaders have created an XR game prototype to engage community members in exploring local impacts of climate change and possible futures. The program is organized as an equitable partnership, with young people leading the game development and adult team members supporting their work and studying the impacts of the program. Our youth leaders are also systematically developing and investigating their own questions related to the learning outcomes of their digital narrative. We expect that: 1) by exploring existing futures scenarios for Arizona, youth leaders will increase their understanding of climate science, possible solutions to climate change, and pathways to alternative possible futures; 2) by acting as science communicators, participating youth leaders will strengthen their agency and envision a future self that uses STEM and media to create the future they want to live in; and 3) by leveraging their perspectives as young people and community members, participating youth will create innovative informal STEM learning experiences that promote similar outcomes for participating community members.